After Ma Died​The sky is back, insistent with its overcast, but soothing in its milkinessunder which doves come and go like small airplanes looking for their ports.At breakfast, I playedMozart spinet pieces, purely Mozart, sad and happy.In the dictionary, welooked up “spinet,” which,surprisingly, has one n only.Also, “clavichord,” “harpsichord,”“cembalo,” pretty words from places that the music brings you, like a conversation to make the room glow—the kind of place, I thought, where Ma might be, if she’s still anyplace.

Joseph Somoza

Joseph Somoza retired from teaching (New Mexico State) and editing (Puerto del Sol) some time back to have more time for writing. He lives in Las Cruces with Jill, a painter.​

​Ana Prundaru is a writer/artist who roams the globe sometimes. Most recently, she has contributed writing and art to SmokeLong Quarterly, CutBank, Flyway and Rio Grande Review. She lives in Switzerland and can be found online at https://posthaltelei.wordpress.com/.